disruption

noun

dis·​rup·​tion dis-ˈrəp-shən 

plural disruptions

: the act or process of disrupting something : a break or interruption in the normal course or continuation of some activity, process, etc.

disruption of sleep

disruptions in service

a process that has continued without disruption

Throughout the history of medicine, health has been seen as a condition of equilibrium and illness as the disruption of a balanced state.

—David Mechanic

By 1925 most countries had recovered from the economic disruptions caused by the Great War of 1914-18.

—John A. Garraty

Synonyms of disruption

• disturbance
• dislocation

Examples of disruption in a Sentence

the flat tire resulted in an unfortunate disruption of the schedule for our road trip

Recent Examples on the Web

Soon after the conflict broke out, oil analysts had forecast prices surging to $150 to $200 a barrel on the back of the abrupt supply disruption. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

The company says the plant could provide roughly 400 MW of electrical power without the risk of plasma disruptions, supporting its intended role as a source of baseload energy. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026

But in the last few years, disruptions to the vaccine program have left a growing number of children unvaccinated. — Julhas Alam, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026

While disruptions to oil supply are in focus, analysts are also watching demand. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disruption

• corruption
• eruption
• irruption
• incorruption
• interruption

Medical Definition

disruption

noun

dis·​rup·​tion dis-ˈrəp-shən 

: the act or process of breaking apart or rupturing

bandaged her leg tightly to prevent disruption of the partly healed wound

disrupt

dis-ˈrəpt 

transitive verb